Farmers report delays in quarterly SFI payments

Thousands of farmers in England are experiencing delays in payments from Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Farmers Weekly has learned, as the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is carrying out due diligence checks on scheme holders.

Quarterly payments that were expected in February and early March have yet to be received, and some farmers are also waiting for their end-of-agreement year annual declaration in order to complete their final first-year payment.

The NFU has raised concerns with the RPA, but has received “mixed messaging” and is awaiting updates.

See also: Defra indicates spending review pivotal to future of SFI

One farmer from Lincolnshire, enrolled in the SFI scheme, reported frustration with the delay, explaining that the RPA had told him different stories about when payments would be made, with no clear resolution.

The farmer, who had been expecting his third payment for options including legume fallows, herbal leys, and wild bird cover, said he was told the delay was due to an IT issue affecting the herbal ley option, although the RPA categorically denied there are any problems with its systems.

The farmer said he told the RPA customer helpline that the payment delay was making it difficult to manage cashflow.

“I was advised to contact my local MP and the NFU, which I’ve now done,” he said. “They expect us to meet deadlines for the scheme, but in my opinion they are ­breaching their own contract.”

Steve Elnor, another farmer based in Lincolnshire, expressed similar concerns, saying the lack of communication and delayed payments were affecting his cashflow and leading to overdraft interest charges.

Richard Wordsworth, senior support schemes adviser at the NFU, raised concerns about the delays, especially considering the “ongoing cashflow pressures on farming businesses up and down the country”.

RPA acknowledges delays

An RPA spokesman acknowledged that the agency was working with affected customers to resolve delays as quickly as possible. They also noted that the SFI scheme had 35,000 live agreements.

“The vast majority of people receive their payments without any issues. In instances where there are delays, we work with customers to resolve issues and ensure their payment are made as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.